Saagar Kote
Directed by Tim Story, Netflix’s ’72 Hours’ follows Joe (Kevin Hart), an advertising executive in his 40s who is accidentally added to a group chat for the bachelor party of Mason (Mason Gooding). Hoping to better understand a younger generation and reconnect with his adventurous side, Joe convinces Mason and his friends Nick (Marcello Hernández), Hunter (Ben Marshall), and Freshman (Kam Patterson) to let him tag along on their three-day trip to Miami. What begins as an awkward weekend soon spirals into complete chaos as the group gets caught up in drugs, wild parties, run-ins with the law, and outrageous mishaps.
After an unexpected encounter with cocaine unleashes Joe’s reckless alter ego, the bachelor party takes an even more dangerous turn when a powerful drug lord comes after them. While dealing with all the chaos around him, Joe must also handle his relationship with his girlfriend Jennifer (Teyana Taylor). With the situations getting more absurd at every turn, the fates of Joe and his young friends hang in the balance. If the storyline of the comedy film appealed to you, these movies, similar to ‘72 Hours,’ feature fast-paced narrative styles, wild characters, adrenaline-fueled moments, and over-the-top humor.
12. We’re the Millers (2013)
‘We’re the Millers’ is a Rawson Marshall Thurber directorial that narrates the tale of David Clark (Jason Sudeikis), a small-time drug dealer who is forced to complete a dangerous job after being robbed and left in debt to his supplier. To smuggle a huge shipment of drugs from Mexico into the US without attracting attention, he comes up with a strange plan. David hires stripper Rose O’Reilly (Jennifer Aniston) to pose as his wife, along with Kenny Rossmore (Will Poulter) and Casey Mathis (Emma Roberts), to pretend to be his kids.
Calling themselves the Millers, the four set off on a seemingly simple road trip that soon turns into a string of dangerous encounters, unexpected obstacles, and hilarious misadventures that push their fake family to its limits. Much like ’72 Hours,’ the comedy film thrives on chaotic group dynamics and outrageous situations that keep escalating at every turn. The movies follow mismatched strangers who are thrown together on an unpredictable adventure, where every attempt to fix one problem only leads to an even bigger disaster.
11. Due Date (2010)
Helmed by Todd Phillips, ‘Due Date’ centers on Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.), who is desperate to reach LA before the birth of his first child. However, after losing his luggage and wallet, he has no choice but to make the journey by road, especially after being placed on the no-fly list. With time running out, Peter reluctantly accepts a ride from a stranger, Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis). When Ethan’s wild nature makes its presence known, their cross-country trip quickly goes off the rails as they stumble into one confusing situation after another, including confrontations and a risky escape from the Mexican police.
To make matters worse, Peter is also haunted by the fear that his wife may be unfaithful and that the baby might not be his. Both ’72 Hours’ and ‘Due Date’ are comedy films that pair a frustrated and confused man with unpredictable companions, turning an ordinary trip into outrageous experiences. The films balance absurd humor with relentless fun as their characters struggle to survive the chaos and unpredictable events.
10. Game Night (2018)
In ‘Game Night,’ Max Davis (Jason Bateman) and Annie Davis (Rachel McAdams) are a married couple whose weekly game nights with friends are fueled by their fierce competitive streak. The fun takes an unexpected turn when Max’s brother, Brooks Davis (Kyle Chandler), organizes an elaborate murder mystery game. What begins as a harmless evening of entertainment soon becomes something far more dangerous when the group realizes the threats around them are real.
Forced to work together, Max, Annie, and their friends find themselves caught in a wildly unpredictable adventure filled with bizarre characters and unexpected twists. Brought to life by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the comedy film, akin to ’72 Hours,’ turns an ordinary social gathering into an escalating series of hilarious disasters. The films rely on ensemble chemistry and a mix of action and outrageous comedy, pushing the characters to the limit.
9. Hall Pass (2011)
Directed by Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly, ‘Hall Pass’ revolves around best friends Rick (Owen Wilson) and Fred (Jason Sudeikis), two married men whose constant interest in other women begins to frustrate their wives. Hoping to save their marriages, their wives give them a rare opportunity: to do whatever they want without question. Convinced they are about to relive the excitement of single life, Rick and Fred eagerly embrace the chance.
However, their fantasy quickly falls apart when things don’t turn out as expected, and the wives make unexpected connections of their own. ‘Hall Pass’ and ’72 Hours’ are comedy films that shed light on older men trying to prove they still have what it takes to have fun and survive unfamiliar social situations. The humor in the movies stems from middle-aged men struggling to keep up as their plans spiral out of control.
8. Old School (2003)
‘Old School’ tells the story of three lifelong friends, Mitch (Luke Wilson), Frank (Will Ferrell), and Beanie (Vince Vaughn), who are unhappy with where their lives have ended up. After Mitch’s relationship falls apart, he moves into a house near a college campus, where the trio comes up with a plan to relive their younger days by starting their own fraternity. Their unconventional group soon attracts an odd mix of college students, middle-aged adults, and retirees, turning the house into a nonstop party spot.
When the fraternity grows wilder, the friends find themselves battling Dean Gordon Pritchard, AKA Cheese (Jeremy Piven), who is determined to shut them down once and for all. Crafted under Todd Phillips’ direction, the comedy film finds humor in the misadventures of middle-aged men who throw themselves into a younger crowd in an attempt to recapture their youth. These efforts quickly spiral into outrageous parties, reckless decisions, and uncontrollable situations where disorderliness is the only rule.
7. Neighbors (2014)
Brought to life by Nicholas Stoller, ‘Neighbors’ is a comedy film that follows Mac Radner (Seth Rogen) and Kelly Radner (Rose Byrne), a young couple trying to adjust to life as new parents while holding on to their youthful spirit. Their quiet suburban life is turned upside down when a loud and wild fraternity led by Teddy Sanders (Zac Efron) moves in next door. Hoping to stay on good terms with their new neighbors, Mac and Kelly initially embrace the college crowd. However, the nonstop parties and chaos soon push them to their limits, sparking a feud between the exhausted parents and the fraternity.
Both sides refuse to back down, and their rivalry turns into a war of pranks and silly strategies. While ‘Neighbors’ is essentially a story of parents struggling to survive the nonstop crises caused by a fraternity, ’72 Hours’ sees Joe willingly step into that same world by joining a wild bachelor party. In both stories, the generation gap between characters leads to escalating mayhem and crass humor.
6. Me Time (2022)
‘Me Time’ is a comedy film guided by John Hamburg’s vision that chronicles the life of Sonny Fisher (Kevin Hart), who joins his free-spirited high school friend Huck Dembo (Mark Wahlberg) on a long-overdue getaway. This vacation opportunity comes to Sonny at a time when he is a stay-at-home father, spending his days caring for his children while his wife is the family’s breadwinner. What is supposed to be a relaxing break soon turns into a series of unpredictable misadventures, from embarrassing mishaps to dangerous encounters with wild animals.
As the adventure continues, the chaos that comes with it may be the fuel that Sonny needs to rediscover the fun-loving side of himself. While ‘Me Time’ explores Sonny escaping the routine of family life through a wild vacation with an old friend, ’72 Hours’ sees Joe break free from his ordinary life after unexpectedly joining a bachelor party with a much younger group. The main characters rediscover their adventurous side through increasingly bizarre experiences.
5. Dirty Grandpa (2016)
‘Dirty Grandpa’ deals with Jason Kelly (Zac Efron), a lawyer who reluctantly accompanies his grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Kelly, AKA Dick (Robert De Niro), on a road trip to Florida after his grandmother’s funeral. Expecting a quiet journey, Jason instead finds himself caught up in Dick’s reckless lifestyle as they chase parties, meet new people, and stumble into chaotic situations. When the trip grows increasingly beyond control, Jason begins to question everything around him, while his grandfather’s carefree outlook encourages him to embrace life in a different way.
Helmed by Dan Mazer, the comedy film reflects the essence of ‘72 Hours’ through its blend of raunchy comedy, wild parties, and a reluctant protagonist who slowly embraces the madness around him. Like Joe, Jason discovers that one chaotic trip can completely change his perspective on life.
4. Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016)
‘Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates’ delves into the adventures of brothers Mike Stangle (Adam Devine) and Dave Stangle (Zac Efron), who hope to avoid catastrophe at their sister’s destination wedding in Hawaii. Tired of their reckless antics, their family insists they bring respectable dates. The brothers end up inviting Tatiana (Aubrey Plaza) and Alice (Anna Kendrick), believing they are the perfect companions. In reality, the two women are party-loving friends posing as harmless people to score a free Hawaiian vacation.
Once everyone arrives in Hawaii, the clashing personalities transform the wedding into an unforgettable series of mishaps. Shaped by the vision of Jake Szymanski, the rom-com captures the spirit of ‘72 Hours’ through its blend of raunchy humor, party culture, and a group of mismatched strangers whose vacation turns into one outrageous adventure after another. Both films thrive on unpredictable group dynamics and escalating mayhem.
3. Rough Night (2017)
Helmed by Lucia Aniello, ‘Rough Night’ is the tale of Jess (Scarlett Johansson), who reunites with her college friends Alice (Jillian Bell), Blair (Zoë Kravitz), and Frankie (Ilana Glazer) for a bachelorette weekend in Miami before her wedding. Hoping to relive their carefree college days, the group throws themselves into nonstop partying, joined by Pippa (Kate McKinnon). However, the celebration takes a shocking turn when a male stripper is accidentally killed at their beach house.
Panic sets in, and the friends desperately try to cover up the incident, setting off a wild and unpredictable chain of events. The black comedy film, similar to ‘72 Hours,’ centers on a group of friends whose party plans spiral wildly out of control. Although ‘Rough Night’ is about a bachelorette weekend and ’72 Hours’ focuses on a bachelor party, both films thrive on disorder, confusion, and group dynamics.
2. Bachelor Party (1984)
‘Bachelor Party’ is a Neal Israel directorial that sheds light on the life of Rick Gassko (Tom Hanks), whose friends throw him an extravagant bachelor party on the eve of his wedding to Debbie Thompson (Tawny Kitaen). The seemingly fun night of celebration quickly descends into confusion, with alcohol, unexpected guests, and mishaps. While the festivities spiral out of control, Debbie’s wealthy father and her jealous ex-boyfriend do everything they can to sabotage the wedding.
With one disaster leading to another, Rick must survive the unforgettable night before making it to the altar. Akin to ’72 Hours,’ the comedy film is characterized by the unpredictable mess of an over-the-top bachelor celebration. Filled with wild parties, eccentric characters, and seemingly never-ending mishaps, it captures the same outrageous energy that makes Joe’s story entertaining.
1. The Hangover (2009)
Todd Phillips steers ‘The Hangover,’ which explores the misadventures of Phil Wenneck (Bradley Cooper), Stu Price (Ed Helms), Alan Garner (Zach Galifianakis), and groom-to-be Doug Billings (Justin Bartha), who travel to Las Vegas for Doug’s bachelor party. The celebration takes an unexpected turn when Phil, Stu, and Alan wake up the next morning with no memory of the previous night and discover that Doug has disappeared. As they retrace their steps across Las Vegas, they uncover one bizarre surprise after another, including a tiger, a baby, and other experiences that sound too good to be true.
With the wedding drawing closer, the friends must unravel the night’s madness and find Doug before it is too late. A vacation going beyond control, unforeseen chaos, group dynamics, crass humor, parties, threats, and eccentric characters are common to both ‘The Hangover’ and ‘72 Hours,’ which are comedy films that also share a similar visual aesthetic.
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